Board approves conditional-use permit for Prairie Hills storage units with screening, lighting conditions

The City of Watertown Board of Adjustment on May 22 approved a conditional-use permit to allow a small storage facility in the Prairie Hills subdivision, with conditions on exterior materials, landscaping, lighting and any future outdoor storage.

The conditional-use request concerns a commercially zoned C-2 parcel that fronts Southlake Drive and Prairie Hills Avenue. Brandy, a city planning staff member, told the board the C-2 district limits storage units to less than 600 square feet per unit. "The developer, Dennis Arnold or the owner, is proposing to or is requesting a conditional use for storage units, which in the C 2, they are limited to be less than 600 square feet per unit," Brandy said.

The applicant, Dennis Arnold, said he set aside the lot during the subdivision's preliminary plan and had previously installed a concrete access approach that crosses a bike path. "I'm Dennis Arnold, the owner of the property," Arnold said. He told the board the site already has an access point on the south and that he planted evergreen trees around much of the parcel. He described the planned units as interior storage only. "It would all be inside storage. Yep," Arnold said.

Board members discussed conditions to reduce visual and lighting impacts on nearby homes. A motion to approve the permit included requirements that exterior building materials match residential-style siding found in the neighborhood, that the existing coniferous screening be maintained and replaced if damaged, that outdoor lighting be downward-directed ("shoe box"/down-screener) to prevent light spill, and that any outdoor storage be screened with a six-foot wood or vinyl fence. The motion was seconded by Dolly. The board approved the motion by voice vote and recorded the decision as unanimous.

Why it matters: the parcel is adjacent to residential lots and a bike path; the conditions aim to limit effects on nearby homeowners and trail users while allowing an intended commercial use that was shown on the subdivision's preliminary plan.

Details and context: Brandy told the board the lot has frontage on Southlake Drive and the applicant holds a permit for the existing approach. Arnold said some evergreens around the west, south and east are already roughly 15 feet tall, while trees on the north are smaller. The board noted it can impose conditions such as screening and materials as part of a conditional-use approval. No opponents came forward during the public hearing.

Next steps: the permit takes effect as approved; the board noted its authority to require a roll-call vote if a unanimous outcome could not be established. The record contains the motion and conditions but does not list a roll-call tally for this item.